Clutch of Scottish food and beverage businesses hit UK growth top 50

The Alantra Food & Beverage Fast 50 ranks the UK’s fastest-growing, privately-owned food and beverage businesses on the basis of the revenue growth they have achieved over the past two years, according to their most recently published accounts. As such, it provides a unique snapshot of the health of the sector.

Despite some tough headwinds, these businesses have gone from strength to strength, achieving double-digit annualised sales growth over the past two years.

Brewdog based in Ellon, delivered annual sales growth averaging 58 per cent over the past two years, securing its place as the fourth fastest-growing privately owned business in the whole of the UK, in the food and beverage space.

Other leading businesses in the region posting rapid sales increases include Edinburgh-based Innis and Gunn Holdings (annual sales growth of 38 per cent over the past two years) and St James’s Smokehouse (annual sales growth of 25 per cent); Speymalt Whisky Distributors (annual sales growth of 24 per cent); and Highland Smoked Salmon (21 per cent).

This accelerated growth reflects the ability of these businesses to understand changing consumer appetites and to tap into some of the most powerful trends driving purchasing behaviour today, both in the UK and internationally.  These trends include increased demand for healthier living, authenticity and affordable luxury. Their record is all the more impressive given the challenges posed by Brexit uncertainty, rising costs and a challenging labour market.

Simon Peacock, partner and food & beverage leader at Alantra, said: “The Alantra Food & Beverage Fast 50 highlights how the UK businesses in this space continue to go from strength to strength, despite the challenges posted by an impending Brexit and current pressure on consumer-focused industries. This is particularly evident in the Scottish region where five of the businesses in the ranking are achieving remarkable levels of growth.”

Charles Lanceley, director at Alantra, added: “These are businesses that are highly skilled at identifying what their customers want and have captured the imagination of consumers by offering a product with a genuine point of differentiation. They deserve huge credit for the success they have achieved so far.”

Full details of the report can be found here.